After a 14 hour flight from Amsterdam (with stop on Cuba), we arrived around 2 pm on Cancun Airport. Waiting time at immigration was about 15 minutes, so not bad at all. Unfortunately we had to wait long time for our luggage, and as a couple more flights had arrived in the mean time, it took us more than an hour to get through customs. Luckily we got green light, so no need to unpack our suitcases, and explain all items in it ….
The TransBeach coach was waiting for us already, and in about 20 minutes we arrived at Desire Pearl. We had done an Express Check In in advance already, so after some explanation on the resort, Anselmo, the bell boy, guided us to our room. We had been notified about a week before arrival on the Lovers Upgrade, which included an upgrade to a Master Suite, a lobster dinner for two, a bottle of champagne, and a 50 minutes relaxation massage for two in the Spa.
The Master Suite (in the “Star” building) really was magnificent: a huge living room, a bedroom, two fully equipped bathrooms, one with bad and separate shower, the other one with shower only, so no need having to wait for each other. Why don’t European houses hardly ever have two bathrooms? There is sufficient storage facilities for all your clothes. The beds are very good, firm but very comfortable, and there is a wide choice of at least 4 types of pillows. Housekeeping did a good job every day, keeping the suite meticulously clean.
As we have visited Desire RM two years ago, we of course did a comparison between the two resorts.
Having a Master Suite now, and an Ocean View room at RM, it is hard to compare. What we have seen of the buildings and rooms , and what we heard from other guests, the rooms are much larger, much nicer decorated, and of higher standard in Pearl.
Pool and beach: the pool is more than twice the size of the one in RM, divided in two parts by the volleyball net: at one end is the pool/beach bar, so more crowded and more partying, at the other end is the quiet part. Around the pool there is just enough chairs and beds to cope with a 80% occupancy. The beach is wider and much nicer than at RM, with enough palm trees and palapas to give shade for the beach chairs and beds. There is quite some rocks in the water, so water shoes are recommended. Staff tried a couple of times to remove rocks but these reappear again and again. Beach traffic was very limited, mainly locals walking the dog early in the morning. It certainly did not bother us, maybe as we are used to it in The Netherlands, where nude beaches are common. We did not notice any gawkers, unlike at Orient Beach on St Martin, where special trips are organized for the passengers of the cruise ships arriving on the island.
The Jaccuzi really is incredible. It can not be compared in any way with the one at RM. It easily can have 60 people, it looks very nice, with different levels and colors, and it is at ground level, which is quite convenient, especially after disco…. The only critical point is the underwater lights near the steps, which are not at the correct location. We have seen some people stumble from the steps into the water. There is only 4 beds around the jaccuzi, which is not enough, especially as at least half of these are used to take a nap after the disco, or to put clothes on them, the owners sitting at the swim up bar in the Jacuzzi for an hour or so…….
Pearl has an open lobby with a lobby bar, next to the Pearl restaurant on one side, and the disco at the other side. Most evenings there was a DJ or band playing in the lobby before the disco opened at around 10 pm. The disco is a bit over the top Vegas style, a little smaller than the one at RM. The playroom behind the disco also is smaller than the one at RM, and during our stay was not used very frequently. In the disco a show or contest was arranged each night from around 10:30 – 11:00. Most guests attended these shows/contests. Every night there was a theme for the disco (Arabian night, white angel, casino night, etc), but only minority of the women (and hardly any of the men) sticked to the theme. Part of the fun for us had been to find clothes, fitting to the theme nights, especially for Ellis. The music played at the disco was 99% techno, which was not really the type of music appreciated by the audience, which had an average age of 45-50 years. In our opinion the DJ should adjust the music he/she is playing to the audience. The result now was that around midnight the disco was almost empty, and everybody was either at the lobby bar, in the jaccuzi, or at their (or anothers) room.
Unfortunately the same type of music was played at the jaccuzi. I must admit that loud techno crap does not really elevate my libido, nor certain body parts, and for sure is not the type of music we play when being in a romantic mood, and making love …….
The restaurants are really the weak point of Desire Pearl at the moment. When we arrived occupancy was about 35%, so the Pearl restaurant was the only one open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Later that week the Aphrodite restaurant near the pool and beach opened for breakfast and lunch, and Pearl only was open for dinner. For breakfast and lunch one can choose from a buffet (different dishes every day) or a menu, which offered also enough variation. Besides of those you always could ask for other dishes, and the staff was very much willing to accommodate.
In the evening the situation was very much different: there was only two menus, an Italian one and an international one, with a limited choice of starters and main dishes. For dessert there was one menu only, with 6 desserts, used both for lunch and dinner. So being at the resort for two weeks…. Again there was the possibility to ask for dishes outside the menu, but I would prefer to have more choices in the menus. The quality of the food overall is okay to good, although we had the impression it was a bit less than at RM (at least two years ago).
Occupancy fell to 12 couples one night, so all easily could be handled by waiters and kitchen staff. However, when on Friday in our second week the YNots arrived, and occupancy suddenly increased to about 80% (first time they had that many guests since the resort opening), it was total chaos. On Friday evening we, with a group of 8 people) were at our dinner table at 8:30, ordered our food at 8:45, and eventually got our main dishes at 10:15. Waiters were running around without any plan, the chef certainly was not at his best, beef was far too well cooked, food was almost cold. On Saturday one had to wait 30-45 minutes for a table. Luckily the situation improved as from Sunday, probably as occupancy went down again, and several guests decided to order room service.Staff is doing their utmost best to cope. This is a clear management problem. Both restaurants should be open in the evening, sufficient staff should be available. The occupancy should not be a surprise, and can be anticipated.
The staff at Pearl really is incredible. They are so friendly and helpful, and are doing everything to feel the guests comfortable and at home. After one day the know your name, and after a couple of days they know exactly what your favorite drinks are at any time of the day. Just a few names: Jared, the king of the pool and beach beds, who ensured that every morning at 9 our beach bed was raedy for use. The pool bar staff: Carla, Julia, Pablo. The waiters in the Aphrodite and Pearl restaurants: Graciliano, Diego, Jose Tequila, Victor, Eli, David, Madrid. Little Zamora, who was our waiter at our private dinner at the gazebo on the pier at the occasion of our 7th anniversary (luckily on an evening without wind). Juan, the bartender at the jaccuzi bar. Evaristo, our butler. Anselmo, the bell boy. Last but not least the entertainment team: Mariska, Paloma, Joao, Adam and Charlie. They did a great job, both during day time around and in the pool, but also in the evenings in the disco, organizing the shows and contests. All these people made our holidays unforgettable.
During our two week stay we met a lot of nice people: hardcore swingers, naturists, newbies who visited a c/o resort for the first time, and seemed a bit embarrassed by what happened in the disco and jaccuzi, and all types in between. For us, being the only Europeans, it is always nice to meet people from other cultures: US, Canada, Mexico, Latin America. The good thing of Desire in our opinion is that everybody is accepted as he/she is, and can do what he/she wants to do, respecting others.
Are we coming back: for sure. Not just because we like Desire Pearl, despite its start-up issues, but also because Ellis won the sexy legs contest: an upgrade at our next visit.
